2 Mets Opening Day DH candidates already on the roster, 3 they could sign in free agency

Who’ll be the New York Mets designated hitter when the 2025 season begins? A sentence fans as recently as 2019 would have vomited over reading (our grandkids will never believe pitchers used to hit), the reality is the DH has become a necessity for all National League ball clubs.

The Mets went with J.D. Martinez in 2024. Strictly a designated hitter at this stage of his career, this was always the biggest complaint about him coming to the Mets in the first place. It’s limiting when he isn’t effective. For the last few weeks of the season, he offered very little.

Whoever the Mets name as their Opening Day DH could change. Someone with a little more flexibility to defend—even if not too well—should be the primary selection. Two are already on the roster. Three others are free agents.

1) DH already on the roster: Mark Vientos

Mark Vientos remains a natural DH, maybe more so than even before his breakout 2024 campaign. At least now we can feel confident in his ability to actually hit at the major league level. His defensive shortcomings this past season can’t be ignored. While he wasn’t an incredible butcher with only 5 errors and some positive defensive metrics, we could all tell by watching him enough that there is a cap on how well he can play third base.

The Mets have a lot of directions they can go with Vientos. A move over to first base in case Pete Alonso leaves in free agency is one of the most discussed. Because they do have some internal candidates for third base, handing him some regular appearances as the DH could make sense, too. 

Vientos won’t toss his glove into the trash and strictly hit for the Mets. Rotating him at third base, DH, and maybe even at first base regardless of what happens with Alonso seems destined. Along with plenty of DH opportunities for him, a teammate of his might be more apt to receive even more.